“The shortest answer is doing the thing.” — Ernest Hemingway
Gratitude is a virtue everyone should cultivate, according to Brett McKay of the Art of Manliness. Yet gratitude means nothing if you haven’t mastered the art of expressing it.
We should use every opportunity to express to those around us how much we appreciate their love, support, and generosity. The key way to do this is with the Thank-you note. Everyone should be knowledgeable of the when’s and how’s of writing them.
Appropriate occasions would be when you receive a gift, when someone performs an act of service, and when someone goes above and beyond what is asked of them. This could be at work, or in a friendship, after a job interview, after a dinner invite, etc. Pretty much anytime someone does something extraordinary that warms your heart. There’s never really a wrong time to write one.
There are some ground rules though. Always write the note as soon as possible and send it within two weeks of attending the event, or receiving the gift. Email is certainly convenient, but really isn’t appropriate. Sending the physical note shows effort and makes the thank-you far more sincere.
How to Write a Thank-you Note.
Begin by expressing your gratitude for the gift or service. A simple “thank you very much for’ should suffice”. If the gift was money, you may want to use a euphemism such as “thank you for your generosity” or “thank you for your kindness”. If it’s an event, be specific about what you enjoyed. If it’s a gift, Brett recommends telling the recipient how you plan to use it.
In closing your thank-you note, be sure to repeat your thanks. “Thanks again for the wonderful gift”.